Pebble mine is the common name of a very large porphyry copper, gold, and molybdenum. Even a smaller pebble mine, as developer now plans, could face high development hurdles. Oct 06, 2015 epa didnt respect the rules when shutting down pebble. The notice of availability is the start of the 45day public comment. Bristol bays wild salmon ecosystems and the pebble mine. Jun 06, 2018 the army corps of engineers and pebble limited partnership both project that the final environmental impact statement will be completed by early 2020 with a final record of decision by mid 2020, making this one of the shortest nepa processes on record 2. Download environmental baseline document the pebble. The project is located on state land in the bristol bay region of southwest alaska, approximately 17 miles northwest of the community of iliamna. Epa backtracks on alaskas pebble mine, says project could. In july 2014, epa issued a proposed determination, pursuant to section 404 c of the. The people of bristol bayand all of us who support the fight to defend their region and their way of lifearent afraid of good science, and no one should be. Pdf the pebble goldcoppermolybdenum deposit is a controversial mining project in the headwaters of the bristol bay salmon fishery, alaska. A model analysis of flow and deposition from a tailings dam. Review of the earthworks mining water quality study what it means for the pebble mine project home.
April 29, 2014 executive summary of the pebble limited. Potential impacts on salmon ecosystems of bristol bay, alaska assessment. Prior to submitting the nepa permit applications, mining com. A report released by northern dynasty in 2011 predicted profits for mine. Deis for the pebble limited partnerships proposal to develop the pebble coppergoldmolybdenumporphyry deposit as an open pit mine. At the time of this reports publication, plp has yet to release a prefeasibility study describing the scope and scale of the pebble mine, however, preliminary proposals as. According to plp, the pebble mine project will be subject to at. Pebble project, alaska mining technology mining news. The pebble project is located in the bristol bay region in southwest alaska, approximately 200 miles from anchorage. Nepa generally requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential environmental effects of actions they propose to carry out, fund, or approve e.
The proposed pebble mine is located in southwest alaska, on state land near lake iliamna and lake clark, and is situated atop the largest known gold deposit in the world. Despite over a decade of opposition, a key permit for the massive proposed pebble mine in bristol bay, alaska is advancing. The pebble mine project is a controversial proposal by northern dynasty minerals to build one of the largest gold and copper mines in the. Attorney general of washington july 1, 2019 page 2. Pebble limited partnership applicant proposes to develop the pebble coppergoldmolybdenum porphyry deposit pebble deposit as an openpit mine, with associated infrastructure, in southwest alaska, approximately 17 miles westnorthwest of the villages of iliamna, newhalen, and nondalton.
The definition of a mine, mark twain is reported to have said, is a hole in the ground owned by liarsa sentiment worth remembering in the battle over the pebble mine. Development of the pebble mine site will have significant adverse environmental impacts that the deis fails to consider. Executive summary of the final report, an assessment of potential mining impacts on salmon ecosystems of bristol bay, alaska pdf 36 pp, 4 mb, 011414, 910r14001es. Update to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions of the national environmental policy act. The pebble mineas last proposed by the pebble limited partnership to its investors and the u. Pebble mine coppergold prospect ground truth trekking. The national environmental policy act nepa requires. Northern dynasty receives positive preliminary assessment. Bristol bay and lake peninsula boroughs pebble mine survey pdf. As the nepa eis process requires a comprehensive alternatives assessment be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives, the final project design and operating parameters for the pebble project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that contemplated.
Epa confirms negative impact of pebble mine development. Pdf the pebble goldcoppermolybdenum deposit is a controversial mining project in the headwaters of. All eiss are filed with epa, and epa publishes a notice of availability each week in the federal register. The usace, alaska district, intends to prepare a draft eis to assess the potential social. Potential average annual economic contribution of the pebble mine.
Epa region 10 initiated a process to protect one of the worlds most valuable salmon fisheries, in bristol bay, alaska, from the risks posed by a mine at the pebble deposit. A model analysis of flow and deposition from a tailings. The army corps of engineers and pebble limited partnership both project that the final environmental impact statement will be completed by early 2020 with a final record of decision by mid 2020, making this one of the shortest nepa processes on record 2. Pebble west is a near surface resource of approximately 4. Securities and exchange commissionwould generate up to 10 billion tons of toxic mining waste. Deis for the pebble limited partnerships proposal to. View all public comments on the proposal links to docket on regulations. The environmental impact statement eis database provides information about eiss prepared by federal agencies, as well as epas comments concerning the eiss. Pebble mine rejection by epa was from rigging, collusion. More specifically, though, and as described in detail below, the. Epa region 10s proposed determination to restrict the use of certain waters in the bristol bay watershed for disposal of dredged or fill material associated with mining the pebble deposit, a large ore body in southwest alaska.
The pebble project is a coppergoldmolybdenum porphyry deposit in the advanced exploration stage. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the council on environmental qualitys ceq proposed update of national environmental policy act nepa procedural regulations. Cei comments on proposed updated nepa procedural regulations. Final report to bristol bay regional seafood development association, 5 oct. The pebble mine has the potential to greatly benefit both the alaska and u. Epa to withdraw water protections, open door for pebble mine. Army corps of engineers received more than 94,000 comments on its draft environmental impact statement as part of the nepa permitting process for the proposed pebble mine. Jul 11, 2017 the pebble mineas last proposed by the pebble limited partnership to its investors and the u. Temporary water use authorization twua f2018059 rd pdf. Even a smaller pebble mine, as developer now plans, could.
Information on the national environmental policy act nepa. At the time of this reports publication, plp has yet to release a prefeasibility study describing the scope and scale of the pebble mine, however, preliminary proposals as well. The pebble dialogue is a case study in public engagement with science. Pebble watch interviews pebble limited partnerships mike heatwole and alaska department of natural resources sharon stambaugh for the details. Bristol bay assessment final report 2014 bristol bay. Apr 15, 2014 governmentwide data on the number and type of most national environmental policy act nepa analyses are not readily available, as data collection efforts vary by agency. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page.
It is a green field project based on a coppergoldmolybdenum porphyry deposit, which is considered to be the largest deposit of its kind in the world. Read the executive summary and proposed determination. Epa didnt respect the rules when shutting down pebble. Executive summary of the pebble limited partnerships response to epas february 28, 2014 letter initiating the clean water act section 404c process for the pebble mine project in disregard of the rule of law, established precedent, and long respected public policy. An environmental impact statement eis is an environmental document required by the national environmental policy act nepa for actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment 42 usc 4332.
In 2012 wild salmon center and trout unlimited produced a report examining the proposed pebble mine and its potential impacts on the wild salmon fishery of bristol bay, alaska. It was decided that the most current and useful way to communicate with bristol bay tribal members on the wide range oftopics and issues associated with pebble mine would be through the development ofa 12. This report confirms the sentiment of wwf, fishermen and communitiesand the epawho have long said that, even under the best case scenario, pebble mine is just a bad idea, said david aplin, director of outreach for the wwfus arctic program. In this july, 2007 file photo, workers with the pebble mine project test drill in the bristol bay region of alaska near the village of iliamma. This report summarizes and incorporates various materials prepared for the bristol bay native association bbna under contractual agreement with the institute of social and economic research iser of the university of alaska anchorage uaa. Pebble mine development they would like to receive information on.
Jan 27, 2018 in this july, 2007 file photo, workers with the pebble mine project test drill in the bristol bay region of alaska near the village of iliamma. Nepa may differ from those mine models presented in the preliminary assessment. Jul 01, 2019 monetize climate damages in the pebble project draft environmental impact statement deis. As the nas report describes, the nepa process is vital to a full and. Collapsed or recovering shellfish fisheries in the state of alaska. Monetizing climate damages fulfills the obligations and goals. Prefeasibility report for the pebble project as contemplated by the 2007 limited partnership agreement, including ongoing programs to engage project stakeholders in the planning process. The project is known as the bbnauaaiser pebble mine technical assistance project. Geochemical characterization bristol bay drainages pdf 39mb presents findings of a geochemical characterization program focused toward understanding the metal leaching and acid rock drainage risks associated with the rock types present in the general deposit area within the pebble project mine study area. Governmentwide data on the number and type of most national environmental policy act nepa analyses are not readily available, as data collection efforts vary by agency. As for accusations of agency bias against the pebble mine, she blasted the cohen report for what she called its lack of independence, credibility, and transparency, saying that it echoed. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within u. Comparison of predicted and actual water quality at hardrock. Comparison of predicted and actual water quality at hardrock mines authors and acknowledgments ii authors jim james r.
The economic and employment contributions of a conceptual. Monetizing climate damages fulfills the obligations and. Mining proposal directly threatens the bristol bay watershedits people, its salmon, and national fishing industry. Nov 04, 2015 the 346page report, commissioned by the pebble limited partnership, the projects developer, also said that the statements and actions of epa officials raised serious concerns about the. This report describes significant ecological, economic, and cultural concerns raised by proposed development of the pebble copper, gold, and molybdenum deposit in the headwaters of the bristol bay basin, which is home. Energy regulatory commission guidance manual for environmental report. Mar 10, 2020 update to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions of the national environmental policy act. Impact statement eis under the national environmental policy act nepa. If built, the mine would be north americas largest gold and copper mine, potentially producing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of metals.
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